Noli Me Tángere (Touch Me Not)

Elías and Ibarra’s conversation shifts to the former’s family, a story that contains much suffering. While Elías himself is educated, he comes from a line of people who have been severely oppressed by the government; Elías’s sister was killed and dumped into the lake. Elías has been a man on the move for much of his adult life, primarily to escape his family’s reputation. The details of Elías’s life do not change Ibarra’s mind, and when Elías returns to Captain Pablo, he tells him that Ibarra will not support political reform and that he will join the subversive group’s plan to attack the barracks.

Back at Tiago’s house, Linares reads a letter from Doña Victorina in which she pushes him to duel with the ensign. Ibarra arrives and is met with varied reactions; Father Salví reacts with subtle contempt. Ibarra has a conversation with María-Clara’s friend Sinang, in which he learns that María-Clara has not yet made up her mind to marry Linares—as she still wants to marry Ibarra.

At night, with a hint of rain in the air, a conversation takes place between three strangers—two of whom are later revealed to be Bruno and Társilo. The brothers are primed for the attack on the barracks and are once again told that Ibarra is behind the plan. The signal for the attack is “Long live Don Crisóstomo” (339). The men depart as Elías enters. He has been followed and discovers his pursuer is Lucas. The men hold a card game to determine who gets to stay at the cemetery. Lucas wins, and Elías leaves. He is spotted by the civil guard patrol, but when he is asked to identify himself, he tricks the guards into believing he is Lucas.

An ill Tasio speaks with Don Filipo. He is upset at Filipo for resigning from his position as deputy mayor, feeling that he has lost footing for enacting reform. Filipo stands by his decision as he believes the mayor is corrupt and that his resignation is an honorable act of protest. Tasio discusses his views on progress and the struggle for human rights. He then asks Filipo to send for Ibarra, sensing that his life is coming to an end.

Father Salví runs to the ensign’s house and warns him of the impending plot to attack the barracks. He insists that he be credited for stopping the uprising. Meanwhile, Elías runs to Ibarra’s house to inform him that his name has been attached to the ambush plot. As the chapter ends, Elías learns that Ibarra’s grandfather was responsible for his own grandfather’s disgrace—which was the original source of his family’s downfall.